Machine for the production of pocket shaped containers



Dec. 17, 1963 J. BOONE 3,114,298

MACHINE FOR THEPRODUCTION OF POCKET SHAPED CONTAINERS Filed Deo. 4, 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 NTM /Qnw D 7% 7%/ V wid v a T w Y?? J. BOONE MACHINE FOR THE PRODUCTION OF POCKET SHAPED CONTAINERS Filed Deo. 4, 1961 E 44 Sheets-Sheet 2 Dec. 17, 1963 J. BOONE MACHINE FOR THE PRODUCTION OF POCKET SHAPED CONTAINERS Filed Dec. 4. 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 .n I 34 v y l f7 f6 34 I i l 75V 4'1 I Il "-lzf I i 14 l I l L-f e l 24 1 2a 25 l 26 o S 1 11 L: HI 5o I il! [It 52 i .52 5f a l I "/m/E/VTOR JosEpHBaoA/E De.17,1963 BOONE 3,114,298

MACHINE FOR THE PRODUCTION 0F POCKET SHAPED CONTAINERS Filed Dec. 4, 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 /N/E/V TOR By a/wfmam/E United States Patent O 3,114,293 MACHINE EUR THE PRODUCTlON @F PGCiE/l SHAPED CNTAINERS Joseph Eoone, Veilrin, Belgium, assigner to Marius Berghgracht, Ghent, Belgium Filed Dec. 4, 1961, Ser. No. 156,651 Claims priority, application France Dec. 3, 1960 j 8 Claims. QCl. 93.-12)

The invention relates to a machine for the production of containers which are in the shape of -a pocket narrowing from a square or rectangular base, such a container being formed from a blank marked with folding or sc or ing lines, which is so folded that two faces starting from opposite sides of the base converge towards their free ends and lare connected together by the lateral portions of the blank, which are folded on themselves with a re-entrant fold `and whose free edges are connected by lateral sealing joints starting from the free corners of the convergent faces. These packs can be made of simple or complex materials, which are heat-scalable or provided with a heat-scalable coating.

The object of the invention is more particularly to provide a machine which permits the rapid and rational production of packs of this kind from a flat blank provided with scoring or folding lines following the desired lines along which the portions of the blank are to be folded. For this purpose, the invention provides a machine comprising essentially a support intended to receive the blank and having an aperture whose dimensions are, respectively, one slightly greater than one side of the container base and the other larger than the width of the blank, a mandrel whose base corresponds to that of the container, means for displacing this mandrel in reciprocating movement through the said aperture and for entraining the blank through the said aperture in order to produce an initial folding, a bearing member for receiving the bases of the container and of the mandrel at the end of the travel of the latter, and corresponding in form to the form of these bases, two elements whose general form is triangular with one point directed upwards, these elements being placed in the immediate proximity of two opposite sides of the said bearing member, means for displacing these elements along the end of the said mandrel in the end-of-travel position, so as to form the said re-entrant folds at two opposite sides of the container base, two shells each having a hollow corresponding to one of the two lateral walls of the container, extending between the lateral sealing edges of the said container, means for causing these shells to approach one another in order to initiate the folding of the later-al walls of the container, means for withdrawing the mandrel, means for approaching the said shells further towards one another until the lateral edges of the container are clamped between the said shells, means for sealing the projecting lateral edges of the container and means for returning the various parts of the machine to their starting positions.

Une form of embodiment lof the invention will be described hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIGURE l is a perspective view of one constructional form of a container which can be produced with the machine according to the invention,

FIGURE 2 shows a blank from whio' such a container can be manufactured,

FIGURE 3 shows a partial View of a further constructional form of such a blank,

FIGURES 4 and 5 are two diagrammatic side views of a machine `acording to the invention, in planes perpendicular to one another,

ant-,ass

Patented Dee. l?, 'i953 ICC FIGURE 6 shows `a eros-sectional View of elements for the production of the `lateral sealinfY strips, and

FGURES 7 and 8 show these elements in two other positions.

As FIGURE 1 shows, the container comprises a square base l. which could also 'be rectangular, and its body narrows progressively from this base onwards. rIbis container can be obtained from the #blank 2 (FIGURE 2) by folding `along the folding lines a, b, c, d, e, f, g, h, i, the triangles adjacent the lines c, a forming the re-entrant folds, at the Sides b of the base. When the blank has been folded on itself, the lateral zones bounded by the lines e, j and f, j are hot-sealed, leaving open the edges of the blank comprised between the lines e and f, thus forming the aperture for filling the container, the edges of this 'aperture `being adapted, after the container has been filled, to be linally closed at against one another by a transverse sealed joint. The hatched portions k situated outside the lines j can be cut away at any desired instant during the process. The lines can be extended, if appropriate, to join fthe end lof the lines e, f.

Therefore, the body of the container comprises two lateral walls 3 formed by the portions of the blank bounded by the lines e, h, a, l1, f, Iand e, g, a, g, f respectively. These two lateral walls are welded together by lateral welds 4 bounded by the lines e, j, and f, j.

According to a modified blank 2, as shown in FIGURE 3, the triangles adjoining the lines c and d form re-entrant folds which extend to the ends of the lines e and f. The portions included between the lines e, j and f, j respectively are then folded yinto four sections of practically equal length to form the lateral sealing zones 4 which have four thicknesses over their entire height. lf the intermediate two sections are not sealed together, the container can be unfolded laterally after formation, so as to have `four sealed join-ts of two thicknesses, and its volume will be practically doubled.

In the case of the blank shown in FIGURE 2, the portions bounded by the lines e, j and f, j are folded into sections of unequal length and the sealed joints 4 have quadruple thickness from the base to .the height of the lines g, h and a double thickness over the remainder of their length.

The machine (FGURES 4 and 5) comprises a support 5 on which a blank 2 is placed, this support having an aperture 7 -above which is situated a mandrel 3 which is prismatic in general form and from which two triangles 9 project at two opposite sides of its base, these triangles being inclined towards the outside from the said base. This mandrel can be hollow and provided with circulation means for cooling fluid. It is supported by an arm 10 and can be displaced in reciprocating movement under the control of a cam 11 mounted on a shaft 12, and of a tension spring 13 which tends to lowerthe mandrel. The aperture 7 has dimensions, the one slightly greater than the lateral sides of the base of the container, and the other larger than the width `of the blank. When lowered the mandrel entrains the blank 2 through the aperture 7, partially folding it along the lines a, a, until the abutment 14 is encountered, the base 1 of the container being thus gripped between the said abutment and the mandrel base.

Two shells 15, whose lform corresponds substantially to the lateral Walls 3 of the container, are arranged on either side of the abutment 14 and extend upwards from the said abutment. The shells thus have a cross-section in the form of a U, whose branches progressively diminish to zero from the end adjacent to the abutment. Each shell 15 is suspended by one end on a pivot 16 carried by a rod 17 mounted for sliding movement in an appropriate guide and subjected to the action of a tension spring acting in the direction of the arrow 1S and normally alia-,ees

maintaining the rod in a position determined by ran a'outment, not shown. At its other end, the shell carries a projection i9, for example a hook-shaped projection, which is maintained against a hook 2h under the action of a spring Z1. The hook 2G is articulated about a pivot 22 supported by the abutment ill.

Two triangular elements 233, one point of which is directed upwardly, are iiXed on a plate 24. Each element has an inner face having an inclination corresponding to that of the corresponding triangle 9. The elements taper outwardly in the upward direction. The plate 2d is supported by a compression spring 25 bearing on a U-shaped stirrup 26, whose arms extend upwards. A lever 27 articulated at 2S supports the stirrup 26 and normally bears against the abutment 29. he lever can be driven in reciprocating movement under the control of a cam 353. The form of the various cams and their angular position relatively to the shaft EZ are so determined as to produce, in the desired chronological order, the various movements of the elements of the .echanism and so as to give the desired amplitude to these movements. The shaft 12 can be driven by a motor 31 with reduction gear 32, possibly under the control of a pedal 33. It will be apparent that any other driving means of `a suitable type could actuate the various elements of the mechanism. f

When the mandrel 8 has applied the base l against the abutment 14, the plate Z4 ascends under the action of the cam 3l?, the lever 27, the stirrup 25 and the spring 25, so that the triangular elements 23 form the aforesaid re-entrant folds (triangles adjacent the lines c, d in FlG- URES 2 or 3). Then the arms of the stirrup 26 act on the hooks Ztl and cause the shells to approach one another, these shells rotating about pivots 16, thus accentuating the folds of the lateral walls 3. The mandrel S is then withdrawn above the support 5. The continued action of the stirrup 26 on the hooks 2t? causes the shells 15 to pivot further until the lower end of the lateral walls 3 is brought into the correct position.

Then the upper edges of the container have to be clamped together by bringing the upper ends of the shells i5 to abut against one another with interposition of the edges of the container. Furthermore, the lateral sealing joints have to be effected along the lines e, j and f, j of the blank. These combined actions can be carried out by means of `sealing jaws 34 which are suitably heated and which are mounted in pairs on a support 35. Each support 35 is carried by an arm 36 which is controlled by a lever 37 articulated at 33 and operated by a cam 39. rl`he cams 39 are mounted on the shaft 12 and the levers 37 are connected by a tension spring 40. The approaching movement of the jaws 3d and supports 35 at the same time ensures the gripping of the shells 15, the said supports entraining the rods 17 which bear against the supports 3S. In this way, the upper and lateral edges of the container are gripped between the edges of the shells and the jaws 34 effect the sealing of the lateral edges 4 Of the container.

After the sealing operation, the various cams permit the various elements to return to their initial positions, under the action of return springs and transmission elements.

lf this has not already been done, the superfluous zones k can be cut away Iat the time of sealing or afterwards, by any desired appropriate means.

FGURES 6 8 show three positions of a device permitting of an appropriate sealing operation and simultaneously the cutting off of the superiiuous zones k along the lines j. This device comprises the heated jaws 34 to which are fixed knives 41 which cut off the zones k during the closing of the jaws 34, passing from the position shown in FIGURE 6 to that shown in FIGURE 7. When the heated jaws 34 rc-open, the stresses existing in the formed container tend to open the sealing joints which are still soft or liquid, which could cause defects in seal- 4. ing-tightness. In order to avoid this disadvantage there are provided, just alongside the jaws 34 and towards the interior of the container, cooled jaws d2 which will be closed at the same time as or preferably slightly after the heated jaws 34 and will preferably not be re-opened until slightly after the re-opening of the jaws 34 (FIG- URE 8), so as to ensure that the sealed joints are well fixed and so as to ilatten uniformly the irregular ridges which may have formed beside the heated jaws, owing to the displacement of the liquiied plastic material at the inner side of the container. The closing travel of the ieated jaws 3d and cold jaws 42 is preferably regulated in micrometric fashion so as to bring about an accurate partial compression of the total thickness of the layers being sealed.

According to the invention also, an eiieet similar to that of the cooled jaws 42 can be obtained while omitting the latter. To this end, the shells l5, which are arranged immediately beside the heated jaws 34, will only be re-opened after the opening of the heated jaws, so that the container still remains clamped during some time between the shells, which are cooled, for instance, by air or by water circulation. Moreover, jets of cold air can be directed onto the whole height of the sealing joints of the container while the latter is clamped between the shells l5.

`ln order to prevent the knives 41 from heating up, which could be troublesome during the cutting of plastic or plasticized materials, it is advantageous to provide heat-insulating means between them and the heated jaws 34E- and to provide them if necessary with a cooling system. Furthermore, heat insulation can be provided between the heated jaws 134 and cold jaws 42.

lt will be apparent that various modifications can be made in the construction and arrangement of the various parts of the machine without departing from the scope of the invention.

The machine can operate continuously and be fed by an automatic loader, whereas a push-rod will move the iinished container onto a conveyor belt.

What I claim is:

l. In machine for the production of containers in the shape of a pocket narrowii t away `from square or reetar ular base formed fro-,i a blank folded that two opposite lfaces of the con ier converge towards their free ends from two opposite sides of the base and are connected to one another by lateral sealing joints which overiap recntrant folds at the remaining two sides of the base, the combination of a snp ort for the blanl; having an apert "raving dimensions which are, respectively, one --y greater than the :lateral sides of the container' base and the other la .er than the width of the blank, a mandrel having e. base corresponding to that of the contt....er, means for moving said mandrel through the aperture to entrnining the blank through said aperture thereby to produce an initial folding along the two sides of the cont er base from which extend its convergent sides, a p allelogremmatie abutment corresponding to the container base positioned t one side or" the support a distance at least equal to the container length for receiving the blank and stopping the mandrel at the end of its travel through said aperture, a pair of curved, hollow shells each corresponding to a half mantle between th lateral searing edges of the container positioned between said abutment and support and sl aced from two opposite sides of the abutment, each shell having a U- shape cross s stion whose ranches progressively diminish to zero from the end adjacent to the abutment to the end adjacent the sup; zt, a pair of triangular elements erich having an apex in the direction of movement of said mandrel and directed away from the abutment but in immediate proximity of the remaining two sides oi the abutment, means for d' ing said angular elements alors the mandrel when l by said abutment so as to Am reentrant folds E of the base or nie container, means Ifor moving the ends of said shells adjacent the abutment toward one another to fold said convergent faces of the container, means for withdrawing the mandrel outside the partially folded blank, means for subsequently moving the ends of said sheils adjacent said support towards one another to press the shell edges together with the folded blank therebetween except for the lateral edges of the blank to be sea-led which project outside the shells, and means for sealing said lateral edges of the blank together.

2. In a machine the combination as claimed in claim l in which the said mandrel has two triangular projections at its base yfor cooperating with said triangular elements and inclined outwardly in the direction away `from the base of the mandrel, each of the said triangular elements having an inclined inner face whose inclination corresponds to that of the corresponding projection of the mandrel.

3. In a machine the combination as claimed in claim l in which the said means to move the ends of said shells adjacent the abutment includes a plate resting on a compression spring and carrying said triangular elements, said spring bearing on a U-'shaped stirrup whos-e arms are directed towards said abutment and outside thereof, means for displacing said stirrup in the direction of said abutment, a pair of hooks each having one end articulated to the said abutment and their other ends in contact with an end of one of said shells adjacent to said abutment, springs biasing said shells apart, and said stirrup arms engaging said hooks to move the shells upon operation of said stirrup displacing means.

4. `In a machine the combination as claimed in claim 1 in which pivots are provided suspending the end-s of said shells remote from said abutment, said pivots being carried by guided rods movable transversely to the mandrel, and springs tending to move the shells away from one another biasing said rods.

5. `In a machine the combination as claimed in claim 4 in which the said means -for subsequently moving the ends of said shells adjacent the support toward one another include a pair of supports each having two heated sealing jaws, said rods being slidably carried by said pair of supports, means biasing said pair of supports apart, and means for displacing said pair of supports toward one another in opposition to said biasing means.

6. In a machine the combination as `claimed in claim 1 in which the sealing means include heated jaws having heat 'insulated knives fixed thereto to cut oi superiluous portions of the blank.

7. In a machine the combination as claimed in claim 1 in which the sealing means include a pair of heated jaws and -an associated pair of cool jaws arranged just alongside and inwardly of the heated jaws, means for closing together the two pairs of jaws simultaneously and means for separating the pairs of jaws with the cool jaws separating `after separation of the heated jaws.

8. 11n a machine the combination as claimed in claim 7 in which means are provided for moving the shells away from one another after separation of said heated jaws.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 646,355 Butler et al. Mar. 27, 1900 2,131,633 Lindholm Sept. 27, 1938 2,136,990 Daller Nov. 15, 1938 2,268,283 Harris et al Dec. 30, 1941 

1. IN A MACHINE FOR THE PRODUCTION OF CONTAINERS IN THE SHAPE OF A POCKET NARROWING AWAY FROM A SQUARE OR RECTANGULAR BASE AND FORMED FROM A BLANK FOLDED SO THAT TWO OPPOSITE FACES OF THE CONTAINER CONVERGE TOWARDS THEIR FREE ENDS FROM TWO OPPOSITE SIDES OF THE BASE AND ARE CONNECTED TO ONE ANOTHER BY LATERAL SEALING JOINTS WHICH OVERLAP REENTRANT FOLDS AT THE REMAINING TWO SIDES OF THE BASE, THE COMBINATION OF A SUPPORT FOR THE BLANK HAVING AN APERTURE HAVING DIMENSIONS WHICH ARE, RESPECTIVELY, ONE SLIGHTLY GREATER THAN THE LATERAL SIDES OF THE CONTAINER BASE AND THE OTHER LARGER THAN THE WIDTH OF THE BLANK, A MANDREL HAVING A BASE CORRESPONDING TO THAT OF THE CONTAINER, MEANS FOR MOVING SAID MANDREL THROUGH THE APERTURE TO ENTRAINING THE BLANK THROUGH SAID APERTURE THEREBY TO PRODUCE AN INITIAL FOLDING ALONG THE TWO SIDES OF THE CONTAINER BASE FROM WHICH EXTEND ITS CONVERGENT SIDES, A PARALLELOGRAMMATIC ABUTMENT CORRESPONDING TO THE CONTAINER BASE POSITIONED AT ONE SIDE OF THE SUPPORT A DISTANCE AT LEAST EQUAL TO THE CONTAINER LENGTH FOR RECEIVING THE BLANK AND STOPPING THE MANDREL AT THE END OF ITS TRAVEL THROUGH SAID APERTURE, A PAIR OF CURVED, HOLLOW SHELLS EACH CORRESPONDING TO A HALF MANTLE BETWEEN THE LATERAL SEALING EDGES OF THE CONTAINER POSITIONED BETWEEN SAID ABUTMENT AND SUPPORT AND SPACED FROM TWO OPPOSITE SIDES OF THE ABUTMENT EACH SHELL HAVING A USHAPE CROSS SECTION WHOSE BRANCHES PROGRESSIVELY DIMINISH TO ZERO FROM THE END ADJACENT TO THE ABUTMENT TO THE END ADJACENT THE SUPPORT, A PAIR OF TRIANGULAR ELEMENTS EACH HAVING AN APEX IN THE DIRECTION OF MOVEMENT OF SAID MANDREL AND DIRECTED AWAY FROM THE ABUTMENT BUT IN IMMEDIATE PROXIMITY OF THE REMAINING TWO SIDES OF THE ABUTMENT, MEANS FOR DISPLACING SAID ANGULAR ELEMENTS ALONG THE MANDREL WHEN STOPPED BY SAID ABUTMENT SO AS TO FORM REENTRANT FOLDS AT THE SIDES OF THE BASE OF THE CONTAINER, MEANS FOR MOVING THE ENDS OF SAID SHELLS ADJACENT THE ABUTMENT TOWARD ONE ANOTHER TO FOLD SAID CONVERGENT FACES OF THE CONTAINER, MEANS FOR WITHDRAWING THE MANDREL OUTSIDE THE PARTIALLY FOLDED BLANK, MEANS FOR SUBSEQUENTLY MOVING THE ENDS OF SAID SHELLS ADJACNT SAID SUPPORT TOWARDS ONE ANOTHER TO PRESS THE SHELL EDGES TOGETHER WITH THE FOLDED BLANK THEREBETWEEN EXCEPT FOR THE LATERAL EDGES OF THE BLANK TO BE SEALED WHICH PROJECT OUTSIDE THE SHELLS, AND MEANS FOR SEALING SAID LATERAL EDGES OF THE BLANK TOGETHER. 